Opener: Diego Costa celebrates his first Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge GETTY

Chelsea's £32million striker Diego Costa scored again as the Blues maintained their 100 per cent start to the Barclays Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Leicester.

Costa, who had opened his account in the 3-1 victory at Burnley on Monday night, was on hand to convert from close range just after the hour, which ended the brave resistance of the Foxes.

Eden Hazard stroked in a second for Jose Mourinho's men on 77 minutes.

Leicester, back in the top flight for the first time since 2003/2004, had proved hard to break down and could have taken the lead when David Nugent was put clean through, but Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - again picked ahead of Petr Cech - made a smart save.

Both sides were positive during the opening stages, and Leicester, playing in red and having made a couple of changes from their opening-day 2-2 draw with Everton, were not looking in awe of a side expected to contest the Premier League championship once again.

A deflected shot from Brazil midfielder Oscar looped up over Kasper Schmeichel and onto the roof of the net before World Cup winner Andre Schurrle drove his 20-yard effort high into the Shed End.

Leicester, last season's Championship winners, offered some threat on the break themselves.

Race for the title: Strengths and weaknesses

Race for the title: Strengths and weaknesses

1/4
Chelsea

Strengths: Jose Mourinho’s attempts to heap pressure on rivals and deflect from his team’s performance will help ease pressure on the run-in. There are few players performing at the level Eden Hazard has sustained throughout a hugely impressive season, while Chelsea boast the best defensive record and are still unbeaten at home under Mourinho.
Weaknesses: Samuel Eto’o has emerged as the man for the big occasion but it remains to be seen whether he can deliver consistently enough aged 33. Chelsea have defied the lack of a world-class striker to top the League with eight games to go but the firepower of their rivals is more compelling in the run-in.

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2/4
Liverpool

Strengths: Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are the most potent strikeforce around. Steven Gerrard is playing with great authority while Jordan Henderson’s admirers grow by the week. Brendan Rodgers has displayed a tactical versatility that makes them difficult to play against while the absence of involvement in other competitions ensures they will remain fresh for the challenges ahead.
Weaknesses: Liverpool have not gone this close for years. There are lingering doubts about their defensive solidity while they also face key games against Spurs, Man City and Chelsea. Their squad looks less able to cope with injuries to key players.

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3/4
Arsenal

Strengths: Aside from the odd aberration, Arsenal’s defending has improved dramatically this season. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker are among the best pairings in the League. Upcoming matches against Chelsea, Man City and Everton will be the ultimate test of their resilience. If they can stay in contention, the final five matches look winnable.
Weaknesses: Injuries. Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are all unavailable while Aaron Ramsey has been sidelined since Boxing Day but is hopeful of returning soon. Olivier Giroud has struggled in recent matches and the lack of an in-form centre-forward could prove costly.

4/4
Manchester City

Strengths: Manuel Pellegrini boasts the best squad and at their peak City have played with a swagger that perhaps only Liverpool have sporadically matched. They have lost only once at home and can rely on the experience of a tense run-in, when successful two years ago. Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure have no superiors in their positions.
Weaknesses: Sergio Aguero’s absence is a huge blow. Alvaro Negredo’s form has dipped while Edin Dzeko’s goal against Hull last weekend was his first since January. Pellegrini has no experience of a Premier League title run-in, while their three games in hand could be viewed as a positive or a negative.

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On 17 minutes, a dangerous cross from Ritchie De Laet on the overlap down the right had to be headed behind by Branislav Ivanovic.

Algerian Riyad Mahrez forced a decent save from Courtois with a low strike after weaving into space at the edge of the Chelsea penalty area.

Chelsea looked to step up a gear as Costa pulled the trigger from 18 yards, but Foxes captain Wes Morgan flung himself in the way to deflect the ball over.

Blues boss Mourinho was out of his technical area claiming a penalty moments later when Costa went down under a strong challenge from the defender, but referee Lee Mason was unmoved, which on replays looked the correct call.

Oscar was unfortunate not to give Chelsea the lead at the start of the second half when his curling 20-yard effort came back off the inside of the far post. Ivanovic's header was palmed away by Schmeichel from the follow-up attack.

Schurrle was then flattened by a sliding challenge from Dean Hammond on the far touchline - which had the Chelsea bench remonstrating with the fourth official, but referee Mason produced only a yellow card.

Leicester closed down the free-kick and broke quickly, with the ball eventually worked out to Nugent on the left side of the Chelsea penalty area. His low shot was deflcted goalwards and kicked away by Courtois.

As the match opened up, Ivanovic was denied by another fine save from the Leicester keeper, this time an angled drive touched over.

The visitors could have taken the lead on 55 minutes when Nugent beat the offside trap to run clear on goal, but Courtois made a smart save to push the ball wide.

Almost straight away and Chelsea were in at the other end, as Cesc Fabrgeas ghosted into the right side of the Leicester penalty area, where his angled chip was palmed behind by Schmeichel.

The breakthrough finally came on 63 minutes.

Oscar played Ivanovic into the right side of the area, and his cutback was chested down by Costa, before the Brazil-born Spain international, signed from Atletico Madrid, drilled it past Schmeichel from six yards.

Chelsea immediately made a change as Schurrle was replaced by Ramires.

On 68 minutes, Leciester sent on Marc Albrighton to make his debut after joining from Aston Villa, with Mahrez coming off. Hammond was then also substituted, hobbling into the away dugout as Gary Taylor-Fletcher came on.

Chelsea looked to have wrapped things up with 13 minutes left when Hazard collected the ball on the left, cut inside before drilling a low shot past Schmeichel into the corner.

Stamford Bridge was soon rocking again when Didier Drogba was sent on for a cameo, the veteran striker having rejoined the club in the summer - with owner Roman Abramovich leading the applause.

With two minutes left, Schmeichel tipped a 25-yard drive from substitute Willian over the crossbar.